2022 International Astronomy Day

[Christopher K.]

The sixteenth International Astronomy Day will take place on 7 May 2022 from 3pm to 11pm at the Highland Road Park Observatory. As usual there is no admission fee. The waxing cresent Moon will be available during the entire event. The other celestial targets will be deep-sky.

Raffle prizes are soon to be announced. The tickets will be on sale before the end of January.

[Christopher K.]

BREC's Art Program will make its customary appearance at International Astronomy Day. There is always a celestial-themed project at Jenny's table.

The Sun will be in the constellation Aries. It will begin sixty degrees up in the west and setting. Solar viewing is planned for 3:15pm to 5:15pm. The Sun is currently in Solar Cycle 25, which is overperforming so far.

More information:
https://hrpo.lsu.edu//programs/astronomy_day.html
https://www.spaceweather.gov/products/s ... rogression

[Christopher K.]

Have you ever seen a beam of light mark time--and with suprising accuracy? The good people at Precision Sundials has made such a device, and for every clear-skied year HRPO has brought International Astronomy Day to the region, Precision's Renaissance Sundial has graced the event. We dare you to compare its timekeeping with your watch! The Renaissance Sundial will be on display from 3pm to 5:15pm.

More information:
http://precisionsundials.com/renaissance.htm

[Christopher K.]

Ready to see some plants and animals at IAD? Both the Baton Rouge Zoo and the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center will be exhibiting on Saturday.

Also, the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport will be there, as will the Louisiana Wing of the Civil Air Patrol!

[Christopher K.]

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library Bookmobile will be at IAD from 3pm to 8pm. It will have a fantastic collection of astronomy and physics books for all ages. Remember to bring your card!

The Louisiana Space Grant Consortium will have the MARS Truck available from 3:15pm to 6:15pm, with a vast array of demonstrations and viewing equipment.

The St. George Fire Protection District will have a fire engine at the pavilion unloading area from 3:15pm to (hopefully) 6:45pm. It may have to leave earlier on a call.

More information:
https://www.stgeorgefire.com/
https://laspace.lsu.edu/
https://www.ebrpl.com/LibraryServices/Outreach.html
https://www.brec.org/index.cfm/subhome/BRECart

[Christopher K.]

Two chemical rocket bids will take place at this year's IAD: the Estes Whirlybird will launch at 5:05pm, and the Estes Wacky Wiggler will launch at 7:05pm. Bidders must be eighteen; launchers must be eight. (Anyone interested in sampling a wide variety of chemical rockets should visit Hobby Towne...
https://www.hobbytownebatonrouge.com/.)

The card game Bridge not only was the most important and popular card game 100 years ago, it also encourages strategic thinking. in honor of the vast swaths of stars one could see from a city in 1922, the Baton Rouge Bridge Association will visit HRPO during IAD!

Otther brand-new entries into the IAD fun will be the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge and the Baton Rouge Geological Society.

Due to changes in Louisiana law, this year's International Astronomy Day will not have a raffle. Raffle money should be used for wristbands, Wormhole items, solar viewer, rainbow peepholes, food and drink. There will also be no live music as the regular act declined participation.

More information:
http://lawg.cap.gov/
https://www.brec.org/index.cfm/park/BluebonnetSwamp
https://www.flybtr.com/
https://www.bridgewebs.com/acblu182/
https://www.lmngbr.org/

[Christopher K.]

Although there was serious competition throughout the region for patrons' time (a lot of other public events), and the stagnant conditions contributed to the feeling of excessive heat, and there were cloud issues during the last half, this year's International Astronomy Day was a great success.

Thanks to sister locations in BREC—the Baton Rouge Zoo and the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center—for bringing some animal friends. Thanks to the MARS Truck and the EBRPL Bookmobile. Thanks to St. George for providing the fire engine. Thanks to the Baton Rouge Amateur Radio Club, the Baton Rouge Gem and Mineral Society, the B.R. Metro Airport and EBR Mosquito Abatement for exhibiting. Thanks to LIGO and Nachreisen for the amazing demonstrations. HRPO hopes the newcomers (Baton Rouge Bridge Association, Baton Rouge Geological Society and Louisiana Master Naturalists of GBR) found it worth their whiles to participate. Thanks to City Gelato and Louisiana Lemonade for some much-needed cool treats. Thanks to Kathleen’s Balloons & Parties for the large rockets and front gate ornamentation.

This event (all public events at HRPO, really) cannot occur without the continued partnerships of LSU and the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society. The flagship educational institution of our state provides the professional-grade telescopes. They are a huge draw and yield excellent views of the heavens. BRAS gives decades of enthusiasm and expertise and good customer relations for almost every public interaction at the observatory. Thanks to Merrill, Roz, Trey, John, Karen, Scott, Steven, James E., Natalia and Thomas for all the hours of prep and involvement.

This IAD event was about seventy to eighty percent its usual size. HRPO plans to bump it up to 110% next year, as even though it will only be HRPO’s seventeenth celebration it will be the fiftieth anniversary of International Astronomy Day itself (which got its start in California in 1973). Next year’s IAD event will be Saturday 29 April 2023. As always the theme is “Bringing Astronomy to the People”. Mark it on your calendars now!

More information:
http://brarc.org/
https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LA
https://www.brla.gov/418/Mosquito-Abate ... nt-Control
http://www.brgs-la.org/

[jianqunmoisture]

I attend this event every year. I like to study stars, space, and astrology. Many people don't consider astrology a science. In my opinion, anything that has any explanation can be considered science. I believe that each person is a reflection of their zodiac sign. The date, time, and year of birth shape a person's destiny and life path. I enjoy observing the stars and finding the constellations of different signs. I read horoscopes daily. Of course, you need to be able to filter the information you receive because not all of it is reliable. I am a Cancer by zodiac sign. Recently I read an interesting article: Midheaven in Cancer. It talks about destiny, life's journey, and your purpose in this world. I think it will be interesting to many people.